WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a formal investigation into the effectiveness of prior recall repairs on certain RAM pickup trucks following multiple reports of post-repair failures involving the brake transmission shift interlock (BTSI) system.

According to the agency, its Office of Defects Investigation has received 14 Vehicle Owner Questionnaire reports and six Early Warning Reporting Death and Injury reports describing failures of the BTSI system in RAM trucks that had already undergone recall repairs. The investigation affects model year 2013–2018 RAM 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks equipped with a column-mounted shift lever.

The BTSI is a critical safety feature designed to prevent the vehicle’s transmission from being shifted out of Park unless the brake pedal is depressed. The previously issued recalls were intended to correct a condition in which the BTSI locking pin could become stuck, potentially allowing the transmission to shift without pressing the brake or even without a key in the ignition. Such a failure can lead to unintended vehicle rollaway.

All the vehicles mentioned in the new reports had previously been serviced under one of the two recalls.

The purpose of the newly opened Recall Query is to assess the effectiveness of those earlier recall remedies, investigate the causes of continued rollaway incidents, and determine whether other underlying issues are contributing to the BTSI failures.

The investigation is ongoing. Consumers and interested parties can access related reports and documentation through NHTSA’s website at www.nhtsa.gov.

No additional recalls have been announced at this time.